Enc. 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN 

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH. 

Albany, New York 

MEMBERS 

Henry Anderson, M.D.

 Madison, Wisconsin 

Josie Beach

 Kennewick, Washington 

Bradley P. Clawson

 Rexburg, Idaho 

R. William Field, Ph.D. 

 Iowa City, Iowa 

Michael H. Gibson

 Franklin, Ohio 

Mark A. Griffon 

 Salem, New Hampshire 

Richard Lemen, Ph.D.

 Canton, Georgia 

James E. Lockey, M.D.

 Cincinnati, Ohio 

Wanda I. Munn

 Richland, Washington 

John W. Poston, Sr., Ph.D.

 College Station, Texas 

David B. Richardson, Ph.D.

 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D.

 Elysian, Minnesota 

Phillip Schofield

 Bosque Farm, New Mexico 

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.

 Lafayette, Indiana 

STAFF 

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 

Theodore M. Katz, MPA 

Atlanta, Georgia 

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT 

Zaida Burgos 

Atlanta, Georgia 

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH
 

4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46
 

Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
 

(513) 533-6825 

December 29, 2011 

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius 

Secretary 

Department of Health and Human Services 

200 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20201 

Dear Madam Secretary: 

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) has evaluated 

Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 00103 concerning workers at the 

Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina, under the statutory requirements 

established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation 

Program Act of 2000 (EEOICPA) and incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.13. 

The Board respectfully recommends that SEC status be accorded to: 

“All employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor 

agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked at 

the Savannah River Site from January 1, 1953 through September 

30, 1972, for a number of work days aggregating at least 250 work 

days, occurring either solely under this employment or in 

combination with work days within the parameters established for 

one or more other classes of employees included in the Special 

Exposure Cohort." 

This recommendation is based on the following factors: 

• Individuals employed at the Savannah River Site during the time period 

in question worked on the production of materials for nuclear weapons. 

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 

review of available monitoring data, as well as available process and 

source term information for this facility found that NIOSH lacked the 

sufficient information necessary to complete individual dose 

reconstructions with sufficient accuracy for internal radiological 

exposures due to thorium in some areas of the facility during the time 

period in question. The Board concurs with this determination. The 

Board also found that available personnel and monitoring records were 

not adequate to identify all employees who worked and may have 

worked in those areas of the Savannah River Site and for whom dose 

reconstructions are not feasible. Hence, the Board has recommended a 

class definition that includes all employees at the Savannah River Site 

notwithstanding of available personnel and monitoring records. 
 

The Secretary December 29, 2011 

• NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for these Savannah River 

Site employees during the time period in question. The Board also concurs with this 

determination. 

Based on these considerations and the discussion at the December 7 to 8, 2011 Board 

meeting held in Tampa, Florida, the Board recommends that this class be added to the SEC. 

Enclosed is the documentation from the Board meeting(s) where this SEC class was 

discussed. The documentation includes copies of the petition, the NIOSH review thereof, and 

related materials. If any of these items are unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly. 

 Sincerely,

 [Signature on file] 

James M. Melius, M.D., Dr. PH 

 Chairman, ABRWH 

Enclosure